Method for producing amino acid and production apparatus therefor

ABSTRACT

A method for producing amino acids includes collecting feather waste into a container, with the feather waste having a pH value between 8 to 9.5; mixing from 5 weight percent to 8 weight percent of an alkaline solution having a pH value between 10 to 12 with from 30 weight percent to 40 weight percent of the feather waste and from 52 weight percent to 65 weight percent of water at room temperature for 12 to 48 hours to produce a preproduct; electrolyzing the preproduct to produce a product mixture; adding from 3 weight percent to 5 weight percent of an acid solution having a pH value between 3 to 6 into from 95 weight percent to 97 weight percent of first mixture to produce a second product via neutralization reaction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for producing amino acids and,in particular, to a method for hydrolyzing feather waste to extract theamino acids, and an apparatus is used to produce the amino acids.

2. Description of the Related Art

It makes millions of tons of feather waste due to the global market forthe huge demand for poultry meat. Further, the feather waste will rotunder natural conditions and causes stinking pollution. However, theburning landfill can reduce the stinking pollution caused the rottenfeather waste, but such processed method will need a lot of manpower andmaterial resources.

Furthermore, the feather waste contains a lot of protein, such as bychemical method to degradation of amino acids, which avoids thepollution generated feather waste, but also has good economic returns,after all is the best way to deal with feathers.

Thus, a need exists for a novel method for producing amino acids thatmitigates and/or obviates the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly a method is provided, which comprises:

collecting feather waste into a container, with the feather waste havinga pH value between 8 to 9.5;

mixing from 5 weight percent to 8 weight percent of an alkaline solutionhaving a pH value of between 10 and 12 with from 30 weight percent to 40weight percent of the feather waste and from 52 weight percent to 65weight percent of water at room temperature for 12 to 48 hours toproduce a preproduct to produce a first product having a pH value ofbetween 3 and 6 into from 95 weight percent to 97 weight percent of thefirst product to produce a second product via neutralization reaction.

An advantage of the present invention provides a method for hydrolyzingfeather waste to produce the amino acids.

Other objects, advantages, and new features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a method for producing amino acidsaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an apparatus used to produce theamino acids according to the present invention and illustrates featherwaste to be collected into a first reaction tank.

FIG. 3 shows a partial, continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2and illustrates an alkaline solution, the feather waste and water to bemixed in the first reaction tank to produce a preproduct.

FIG. 4 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 andillustrates the preproduct to be delivered into a second reaction tank.

FIG. 5 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 andillustrates an electrolyser conducting electrolysis of the preproduct inthe second reaction tank.

FIG. 6 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 andillustrates the preproduct to be electrolyzed to produce a firstproduct.

FIG. 7 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 andillustrates an acid solution to be mixed with the first product toproduce a second product via neutralization reaction.

FIG. 8 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 andillustrates the electrolyser conducting electrolysis of the secondproduct in the second reaction tank.

FIG. 9 shows a continued view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 andillustrates a third product delivered from the second reaction tank to aproduct tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 9 show the method and a production apparatus accordingto the present invention shown in the drawings. The method for producingamino acids comprising:

collecting feather waste A into a container and the feather waste Ahaving a pH value between 8 to 9.5, preferably between 9 and 9.5;

mixing from 5 weight percent to 8 weight percent of an alkaline solutionB, which has a pH value of between 10 and 12, preferably between 10.5and 11, with from 30 weight percent to 40 weight percent of the featherwaste A and from 52 weight percent to 65 weight percent of water,preferably in an amount of 65 weight percent, at room temperature (e.g.,20 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius) for 12 to 48 hours, preferablymixed for 24 to 48 hours, to produce a preproduct C;

electrolyzing the preproduct C to produce a first product D;

adding from 3 weight percent to 5 weight percent of an acid solution Ehaving a pH value of between 3 and 6, preferably between 4.5 and 5, intofrom 95 weight percent to 97 weight percent of the first product D toproduce a second product F via neutralization reaction.

The second product F with smaller molecule clusters is suitable for useas fertilizer. Moreover, if desired, the second product F can beelectrolyzed again to produce a third product G, which has much smallermolecule clusters to be absorbed by plants easily.

The apparatus for producing amino acids according to the presentinvention includes a first reaction tank 10, a first solution tank 20, asecond reaction tank 30, an electrolyser 40, and a second solution tank50.

The first reaction tank 10 is adapted for collecting and mixing featherwaste A, an alkaline solution B, and water therein. The first reactiontank 10 includes a stirring unit 11 mounted thereon, and a conveyor belt12 connected thereto for delivering feather waste A. The stirring unit11 includes a motor 111 and a plurality of mixing blades 112 beingactuateable by the motor 111 and rotatable in the first reaction tank10.

The first solution tank 20 is one-way connected with the first reactiontank 10 and adapted to store and deliver an alkaline solution B to thefirst reaction tank 10. Thus, the feather waste A, the alkaline solutionB, and water are mixed together in the first solution tank 20 to producea preproduct C.

The second reaction tank 30 is one-way connected with the first reactiontank 10 and adapted to store the preproduct C.

The electrolyser 40 is electronically connected to the second reactiontank 30 and can conduct electrolysis of the preproduct C in the secondreaction tank 30 to produce a first product D.

The second solution tank 50 is one-way connected with the secondreaction tank 30 and adapted to store and deliver an acid solution E tothe second reaction tank 30. Thus, the acid solution E and the firstproduct D are mixed together in the second solution tank 50 to produce asecond product F via neutralization reaction.

Further, the apparatus includes a product tank 60 one-way connected withthe second reaction tank 30. Thus, the electrolyser 40 can conductelectrolysis of the second product F in the second reaction tank 30 toproduce a third product G, which has much smaller molecule clusters tobe absorbed by plants easily.

Furthermore, the apparatus includes a delivering unit 70, which includesfirst, second, third, and fourth delivering assemblies 70 a, 70 b, 70 c,and 70 d.

The first delivering assembly 70 a is connected between the firstreaction tank 10 and the first solution tank 20 and includes a firstpump 71 a, and two first pipes 72 a. One of the two first pipes 72 a isconnected between the first reaction tank 10 and the first pump 71 a,and the other one of the two first pipes 72 a is connected between thefirst pump 71 a and the first solution tank 20. Thus, the alkalinesolution B is one-way delivered from the first solution tank 20 to thefirst reaction tank 10 via the first pump 71 a operating.

The second delivering assembly 70 b is connected between the firstreaction tank 10 and the second reaction tank 30 and includes a secondpump 71 b and two second pipes 72 b. One of the two second pipes 72 b isconnected between the first reaction tank 10 and the second pump 71 b,and the other one of the two second pipes 72 b is connected between thesecond pump 71 b and the second reaction tank 30. Thus, the preproduct Cis one-way delivered from the first reaction tank 10 to the secondreaction tank 30 via the second pump 71 b operating.

The third delivering assembly 70 c is connected between the secondsolution tank 50 and the second reaction tank 30 and includes a thirdpump 71 c and two third pipes 72 c. One of the two third pipes 72 c isconnected between the second solution tank 50 and the third pump 71 c,and the other one of the two second pipes 72 c is connected between thethird pump 71 c and the second reaction tank 30. This, the acid solutionE is one-way delivered from the second solution tank 50 to the secondreaction tank 30 via the third pump 71 c operating.

The fourth delivering assembly 70 d is connected between the secondreaction tank 30 and the product tank 60 and includes a fourth pump 71 dand two fourth pipes 72 d. One of the two fourth pipes 72 d is connectedbetween the second reaction tank 30 and the fourth pump 71 d, and theother one of the two fourth pipes 72 d is connected between the fourthpump 71 d and the product tank 60. Thus, the third product G is one-waydelivered from the second reaction tank 30 to the product tank 60 viathe fourth pump 71 d operating.

Additionally, the apparatus further includes a casing 80. The firstreaction tank 10, the first solution tank 20, the second reaction tank30, the electrolyser 40, the second solution tank 50, the product tank60, and the delivering unit 70 are mounted in the casing 80.

The casing 80 includes two lateral portions 81, and a first control box82 is mounted on one of the two lateral portions 81 and electronicallyconnected with the electrolyser 40, the first pump 71 a, and the secondpump 71 b, and a second control box 83 is mounded on the other one ofthe two lateral portions 81 and electronically connected with the thirdpump 71 c and the fourth pump 71 d.

Thus since the illustrative embodiment disclosed herein may be embodiedin other specific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiment described herein is to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope is to be indicated by theappended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for producing amino acids comprising:collecting feather waste into a container, with the feather waste havinga pH value between 8 to 9.5; mixing from 5 weight percent to 8 weightpercent of an alkaline solution having a pH value of between 10 and 12with from 30 weight percent to 40 weight percent of the feather wasteand from 52 weight percent to 65 weight percent of water at roomtemperature for 12 to 48 hours to produce a preproduct; electrolyzingthe preproduct to produce a first product; adding from 3 weight percentto 5 weight percent of an acid solution having a pH value of between 3and 6 into from 95 weight percent to 97 weight percent of the firstproduct to produce a second product via neutralization reaction.
 2. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feather waste has the pH valueof between 9 and 9.5.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein theroom temperature is maintained between 20 degrees Celsius to 30 degreesCelsius.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water is in anamount of 65 weight percent.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the alkaline solution has the pH value of between 10.5 and 11.6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkaline solution, thefeather waste, and the water are mixed for 24 to 48 hours.
 7. The methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein the acid solution having the pH value ofbetween 4.5 and
 5. 8. An apparatus for producing amino acids comprising:a first reaction tank; a first solution tank one-way connected with thefirst reaction tank; a second reaction tank one-way connected with thefirst reaction tank; an electrolyser electronically connected to thesecond reaction tank; a second solution tank one-way connected with thesecond reaction tank.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 furtherincludes a delivering unit, wherein the delivering unit includes first,second, and third delivering assemblies; wherein the first deliveringassembly is connected between the first reaction tank and the firstsolution tank and includes a first pump and two first pipes, wherein oneof the two first pipes is connected between the first reaction tank andthe first pump, and wherein the other one of the two first pipes isconnected between the first pump and the first solution tank; whereinthe second delivering assembly is connected between the first reactiontank and the second reaction tank and includes a second pump and twosecond pipes, wherein one of the two second pipes is connected betweenthe first reaction tank and the second pump, and wherein the other oneof the two second pipes is connected between the second pump and thesecond reaction tank; wherein the third delivering assembly is connectedbetween the second solution tank and the second reaction tank andincludes a third pump and two third pipes, wherein one of the two thirdpipes is connected between the second solution tank and the third pump,and wherein the other one of the two second pipes is connected betweenthe third pump and the second reaction tank.
 10. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the first reaction tank includes a stirringunit mounted thereon, wherein the stirring unit includes a motor and aplurality of mixing blades, wherein the plurality of mixing blades isactuateable by the motor and rotatable in the first reaction tank. 11.The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first reaction tankincludes a conveyor belt connected thereto.
 12. The apparatus as claimedin claim 9 further includes a product tank one-way connected with thesecond reaction tank.
 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, whereinthe delivering unit further includes a fourth delivering assemblies,wherein the fourth delivering assembly is connected between the secondreaction tank and the product tank and includes a fourth pump and twofourth pipes, wherein one of the two fourth pipes is connected betweenthe second reaction tank and the fourth pump, and wherein the other oneof the two fourth pipes is connected between the fourth pump and theproduct tank.
 14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 further includesa casing, wherein the first reaction tank, the first solution tank, thesecond reaction tank, the electrolyser, the second solution tank, theproduct tank, and the delivering unit are mounted in the casing, whereinthe casing includes two lateral portions, wherein a first control box ismounted on one of the two lateral portions and electronically connectedwith the electrolyser, the first pump, and the second pump, and whereina second control box is mounded on the other one of the two lateralportions and electronically connected with the third pump and the fourthpump.